Story | 07 Jan, 2016
The List of World Heritage in Danger is not a disgrace, but an opportunity
A key success of 2015 was the removal of Colombia’s Los Katíos National Park from the List of World Heritage in Danger. It was danger-listed in 2009 at the request of the government, after suffering extensive damage from illegal activities. The park authority has now regained control of the site…
Story | 05 Jan, 2016
Twelve nomination files reviewed for natural World Heritage in 2016
IUCN’s World Heritage Panel gathered last December to consider 12 files for possible inscriptions of natural sites on the World Heritage List in 2016. This includes proposals for boundary changes in two natural World Heritage sites in Russia. As the official Advisory Body on natural World…
Story | 05 Jan, 2016
Why the new policy on sustainable development for World Heritage is a crucial step forward
Towards the end of 2015, the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention adopted a policy on sustainable development. This is a major step in ensuring that World Heritage sites contribute to socioeconomic well-being in a sustainable manner with long-term positive effects, both for the…
Story | 22 Nov, 2015
Valuing natural capital key to tackling climate change – says IUCN
Edinburgh, UK, 23 November 2015 -- IUCN Director General Inger Andersen highlighted the vital role of natural capital in addressing climate change in a…
Press release | 19 Nov, 2015
A global re-assessment of polar bears highlights loss of sea ice habitat due to climate warming as the single most important threat to the long-term survival of the species, according to the latest update of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ released today by IUCN, International Union for…
Story | 15 Nov, 2015
Report calls on aluminium industry to respect indigenous peoples' rights
Geneva, Switzerland, 16 November 2015 – While global demand for the world’s most popular metal – aluminium – continues to rise, it is critical that the aluminium industry address its environmental and social impacts, particularly in indigenous peoples’ territories, according to new report…
Story | 03 Nov, 2015
IUCN and UNESCO explore how World Heritage can protect the high seas
Watch this video to learn why IUCN has joined forces with UNESCO’s Marine World Heritage Programme to explore how the World Heritage Convention could protect the high seas.
Story | 29 Oct, 2015
Natural Solutions: Protected areas are vital for human health and well-being
Protected areas play a critical role in maintaining human health and well-being, although these benefits are just beginning to be understood and applied by the health sector.
Story | 07 Oct, 2015
A sea change: new global commitments to oceans and sustainability
As the UN, governments, NGOs and civil society organisations met at the Sustainable Development Goals Summit in New York last month, the world seems to be waking up to recognise the critical roles that a healthy environment, and healthy oceans can play in addressing current challenges, including…